Oklahoma City Small Business Continuity Program For Coronavirus Disaster Relief Begins Phase 2

Press release from the City of Oklahoma City:

August 4, 2020

Starting Aug. 4, Oklahoma City business owners and 501(c)(3)non-profits with 100 or fewer full time equivalent employees may go to okcSmallBizHelp.com to apply for COVID-19 disaster relief funds from the City of Oklahoma City’s Small Business Continuity Program. The program is accepting applications for a second phase, funded with $12M from the CARES Act.

The website includes information about qualifications and supporting documentation as well as an online application form. Only businesses and nonprofits located in Oklahoma City are eligible. Visit okc.gov/citylimits to see a map.

There are three programs accepting applications and businesses can apply for any or all of them:

Reimbursement Program

Businesses and nonprofits can apply for up to $100,000 for either reimbursement of payroll, rent, utility and other operational expenses OR to recoup lost revenue.

Retrofit Program

Businesses and nonprofits can apply for up to $25,000 to reimburse the cost of sanitizing equipment, furniture, fixtures or renovations needed for social distancing. This includes the “streateries” program to allow restaurants to expand seating onto sidewalks or parking spaces.

Technical Assistance Program

Businesses and nonprofits can receive up to $10,000 in professional services to help with human resources, IT, financial or marketing needs due to COVID-19 changes. Pre-qualified local subject-matter experts will provide technical assistance in these areas and more.

A committee will review and approve applications.

“We opened the second phase with some additional types of support based on feedback we have received from the community,” said Cathy O’Connor, president and CEO of The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City. “Specifically, we included non-profits and revised the assistance programs to address the most pressing needs. Our small business community is vital to our Oklahoma City economy and this program is a critical way to get much-needed support to them quickly.”

The Oklahoma City Council approved the first phase of the program in April with a $5.5 million emergency relief program for local small businesses.

Background

The City, the Alliance and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber built the framework for the program. It’s based on research of what other communities are doing nationally and globally to save their local small businesses as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

The Small Business Continuity Program is the first emergency aid package directly from the City government to local businesses in modern Oklahoma City history.

This press release was produced by the City of Oklahoma City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.